New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Friday signed legislation "removing prohibitions against sports betting" in the state, according to Steve Hughes of the PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY. Christie released a statement explaining that this bill "corrects the critical flaws in the state Legislature’s earlier bill on sports wagering that was vetoed." Hughes reported the new legislation "does not allow betting on college athletics," and it also "repeals the prior Sports Wagering Act." The new law results from a '13 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit that "found that nothing in state law prevents the state from repealing its ban on sports wagering." However, the effort "faces significant opposition from professional sports leagues and the NCAA." The various organizations "have gone to court to try to prevent New Jersey's racetracks and casinos from taking sports bets, which Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport said it plans to begin on Oct. 26." Monmouth Park attorney Dennis Drazin said that it "has already set up an independent entity to regulate the wagering" (PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY, 10/18). In New Jersey, John Brennan noted state officials and others "expect the bill signing to lead to a legal battle very similar to 2012, when the NFL and four other sports organizations obtained an injunction from a federal judge that prevented enactment of an earlier state sports betting law." But Fordham Univ. sports law professor Mark Conrad said that it "seemed likely that Monmouth Park would be 'at least temporarily enjoined' from offering the wagering on Oct. 26." Conrad: "The governor sees this as a long-term battle, so he knows this issue is going right back to court. It appears (Christie) is not going to lie down until New Jersey becomes a sports-betting mecca." Drazin said, "We don’t think the leagues can meet the tests necessary to get an injunction, especially in terms of showing irreparable harm if we take the bets" (Bergen RECORD, 10/18).
